Poppy spooked at cyclist - and I fell off!

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margaretb

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Just typed long tale of falling off and lost post..

To cut a long story short, Poppy was a little more on her toes today, seems it is the way with horses at the moment! She heard the cyclist before I did, and because I was trying to be relaxed when riding, had her on a more loose rein than I probably should have. Anyway, she spooked and I went out the side door, slow motion thinking this is going to hurt, which bit shall I try and land on - my bum/lower back so have very sore base of spine and my nose is tingling for some strange reason. Poppy took off across the field, but did come back and look at me as if to say what on earth are you doing down there. Cyclist man was very nice and almost blamed himself when I explained horse did not like bicycles - but bless him he went and got OH who was fencing in the next field, and came back to say he was on his way, so I did thank him; Caught Poppy who was then a bit wound up, but we got home so I untacked her and took her back to her field.

Sods law - just as I was getting my confidence back this happens, but I think we will be ok. I know I must put in alot more time with her but it is only recently that I have got back on her and things were going well!

Suggestions please as to how to de-sensitise her to bicycles!!
 
You are not on your own. I once fell off the (almost) steadiest cob in the world, when she spooked at a rolled-up piece of carpet outside someone door, along a rutted lane about 500yds from home. She spooked stumbled down a rut and because we were on a long-rein I lid down her shoulder - she was so embarrassed by my behaviour, as soon as she had checked that I was OK, she refused to acknowledge this strange woman hauling herself up her leg, lol!
 
Someone at my old yard did this. have bicycle at yard -lead past it. Have someone on the bike stationary feeding carrots. Ride past horse while in stable and outside doing more and more scary things. Go on hack following bike. Go on hack with bike behind. Lastly go on hack and have cyclist shoot out of unexpected places.
 
oh no!!!! Im so pleased you are ok!
Do you have an arena - id tryt o densitise her there - borrow a bike and rider - lead her ot stationarty bike, let her sniff etc then let teh bike rider ride round arena.
Kelly Marks did some work on a horse scared of bikes recently - i cant remember exactly what she did but was something similar - im sure if you asked on her ih forum someone would know x
 
I fell off today as well! Silly horse spooked at a rabbit and my saddle slipped so I was deposited on the floor! (note to self, do up girth more tightly in future).

Try not to let it knock your confidence too much, I can be a nervous rider and battle with my confidence at times. But it does get easier. Glad you are okay. I am sporting a sore elbow from my unscheduled dismount!
 
That is bizarre, earlier today I typed a long post about how do you desensitize a horse to cycle bikes but I lost it when I went to post it! I had an incident with a too fast and ignorant cyclist on our restricted byway 2 months ago and we collided and my pony has lost his nerve with bikes passing him on this track since. He would have a reaction to the odd brightly coloured or something making a noise on the bike or too fast cyclist before but never to the extent he has now so I know he's lost his nerve with them. I don't know what the answer is, I'm hacking out on this track still but for safety's sake am asking all cyclists to stop for me (track in places is about 3 foot wide - and yes some in the past would try and cycle past you this closely!). I just want to get his confidence with bikes building exercises right rather than make a now bad reaction to bikes worse.
 
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Hello :D

Glad you both okay, sounds like you were both caught a bit unawares, try not to worry too much about it, you survived falling off and she is an honest girl :)

Get someone to ride up and down on a bike on the yard to get her used to it and ask cyclists to stop or slow down for the time being while you get her used to them again, most of them are friendly as you found out.

Glad you having fun again :)
 
MochaDun said:
That is bizarre, earlier today I typed a long post about how do you desensitize a horse to cycle bikes but I lost it when I went to post it! I had an incident with a too fast and ignorant cyclist on our restricted byway 2 months ago and we collided and my pony has lost his nerve with bikes passing him on this track since. He would have a reaction to the odd brightly coloured or something making a noise on the bike or too fast cyclist before but never to the extent he has now so I know he's lost his nerve with them. I don't know what the answer is, I'm hacking out on this track still but for safety's sake am asking all cyclists to stop for me (track in places is about 3 foot wide - and yes some in the past would try and cycle past you this closely!). I just want to get his confidence with bikes building exercises right rather than make a now bad reaction to bikes worse.
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I found your post! I have work to do with my mare!! She can be spooky I don't help cos I'm a little nervous but hopefully we will work thru it!
 
Chumsmum said:
Hello :D

Glad you both okay, sounds like you were both caught a bit unawares, try not to worry too much about it, you survived falling off and she is an honest girl :)

Get someone to ride up and down on a bike on the yard to get her used to it and ask cyclists to stop or slow down for the time being while you get her used to them again, most of them are friendly as you found out.

Glad you having fun again :)
Click to expand...

Hi there!!

I have volunteered youngest son, the only one who has a bike, to work with me and Poppy - except he doesn't know yet!

I am pleased with myself that I'm not thinking I don't want to get on her again, but I am wondering if Poppy thinks, right, *I've got her off once, lets see if I can do it again!! But as youngest son says, Mother you think too much!! :p
 
Apparently bikes really scare horses because they hear them far earlier than we do - something about the highspeed whizzing sound - so they are already slighty edgy because of this and then whoa a bike is right behind them and easily mistaken for a predatory animal about to attack. Not sure how true this is but I guess it makes sense. Like all things, the more they get used to the sound andthe bike suddenly appearing behind them but moving harmlessly past the less anxious they feel about the situation and less likely to flee (although there is an argument that they never lose that flight instinct!)
 
Agree to desensitise the horse.

Where I live we have lots of cyclists some call out "cyclists" as they whizz past and others my old boy would hear quite a few minutes before I even knew they were in the area!

Others just sneak up and appear from no where!! He always does a little move.
But I always seem to fall off him in the past when he was walking along and yes he stands over me as if how did you get down there!!

Scrambler bikes he never likes but the gracious motorbikes who slow down are fine and good as gold.

But I am sure if your horse sees a bicycle everyday constantly in all these different scenarios they will accept it. Even get someone to walk with you if you have lost your nerve etc or go with a horse who is calm in such situations.

My horse wouldnt go past fields of cows but has now accepted they are not horse eating cows and we go past nicely. Practice makes perfect, hope you are not too sore!
 
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